Thanks so much for the info about the sand filter Bob. I need to ask though. Do you ever have to take that apart and clean it?? Or does backwashing it do the job? And does it do a good job of keeping your water clear? Mike, the cost of running a swimming pool pump is a concern and we could actually use a little less volume being pumped. Since our electricity bill here is over $300 every month it may help to put in 2 pumps. But we cant go too low on the volume because we have 2 waterfalls and I love to hear them when I'm outside. But still I guess 2 pumps would still work. Run the lower volume at night and when we are not home and the larger one when we are outside and want to enjoy the ponds. Our filter is a pain. We made it and it's a pretty crude filter but it does work. When it comes to cleaning it though........oh my aching back. LOL We took a storage container and put lava rock in the bottom covered with a thick foam, and then another layer of some kind of filter material we bought at a pond store? It's white and has loosely woven fibers in it. Now, when it comes to cleaning this thing, look out!!! If you want it cleaned really well then you have to lift the darned thing out of the water. And it is heavy!! Then tear it apart and rinse everything with the hose. Usually my 16 year old son comes out and lifts it for me. And he will be gone probably in 2 years when he graduates so we really need to think about doing something different with that. Thanks to you all for your kind advice. Deb

I loved reading this too! As a result of reading these tips and techniques years ago, we always make a 'filter box' from a plastic file folder type container with a handle lid, we've also used shorter ones depending on the pump size. I like for the box to be twice the size or better than the pump. I use hubby's hole saw attachment for the drill to create many holes all over the container, leaving the bottom and a couple of inches of the bottom sides undrilled. I buy the nylon netting in the fabric department at Walmart for maybe 79 cents a yard and wad that up in the bottom, place the pump inside and route your power cable and pump output through the holes in the top. Stuff another wad of the nylon netting over the top and close the box. Sink it into the pond and finish your plumbing. I place a pot of iris or a decorative rock on top to disguise the filter. I do the whole thing for $10 or $15. I do leave the foam filter in place to prevent the netting being sucked into the intake. If you have fish, I highly advise rinsing all of the materials (plastic box and netting) just to be safe.

I don't do too much filtering and can't help re total volume, I guess I don't even understand what or how a 'bubble pump' would filter, but I can help with the connection. You can find almost anything you might need at a hardware store, or Lowes/Home Depot although perhaps not completely together. The issue you didn't mention is controling the flow to the spitter. After the T you will need a shut off valve on the way to the spitter that you will turn part way off until flow is correct. The pump connections will depend on your pump/ waterfall, and spitter locations. That wasn't clear. Presumably this is all flexable tubing and if so then you will just need a connector with female thread to 3/4 barbed tubing fitting. These are usually found near the pvc pipe and fitting section. You will also find 3/4 tubing T fittings there too. These tubing fittings get jammed into the tubing. Usually you warm the tubing in hot water to make it soft enough to push the fitting in. You will probably need extra and different fittings to connect the shut off to the tubing. If you already have a shut off in the spitter line then neverrr mind.

Hi brandond, If they are not expensive, try it and see and let us know how it went. Probably a small submersible pump would be a better choice in a rain barrel, but what the heck give it a try. Aloha